Rob Stringer CBE | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Adrian Stringer (1962-08-13)13 August 1962 (age 63) |
| Alma mater | Goldsmiths College |
| Occupation | Record executive |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Employer | Sony Music |
| Predecessor | Doug Morris |
| Board member of | Sony Group Corporation Luton Town F.C. |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Howard Stringer (Brother) |
| Website | sonymusic |
Robert Adrian StringerCBE (born 13 August 1962) is a Britishmusic industry executive. He has served as the chairman ofSony Music Group and CEO ofSony Music Entertainment since 2017. He is also adirector of football clubLuton Town F.C.[1]
Stringer was listed Second on the 2022Billboard "Power 100" ranking of persons influential in the music industry.[2]
Stringer was born and raised in the town ofAylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and attendedAylesbury Grammar School.[3] He got his first record player at age seven and attended his first concert at age 12 atWembley Arena where the line up includedThe Beach Boys andThe Eagles.[4]
Growing up in Aylesbury, Stringer had the opportunity to see a number of touring bands. In 1976, at the age of 14, he sawThe Clash at one of their earliest shows.[3] He went on to spend his teenage years watching punk bands at the Aylesbury rock venue, Friars, where he began working during school holidays. He later said that while he "saw the cultural side" of the club, "the business side rubbed off on me too.”[5]
After leaving school, Stringer studied sociology atGoldsmiths College in South London.[4] Whilst at university, he spent a year working as a student entertainment manager, booking acts such asSimply Red.[4]
During school holidays, Stringer visited his brotherHoward in New York, then the president of theCBS network. He assisted with CBS television coverage at the Republican and Democrat conventions in the 1980 and 1984 elections.[3]
In 1985, Stringer joinedCBS Records as a graduate trainee. He was named managing director ofEpic Records UK in 1992.[6] He stepped down from the role to become chairman of Sony Music UK in 2001.[6] Whilst at Sony, Stringer had a role in signing Welsh rockers theManic Street Preachers, the first signing of his career.[7][4] Stringer remained close to the band. He said: "I speak to all of them at least once a week and have done for 15 years. We've had lots of ups and downs."[3] He also worked with artists includingThe Clash,Sade,George Michael, andOasis.[6]
Stringer then became Chairman ofColumbia Records in the U.S. in 2008.[6][5] His tenure included the release of25 byAdele,Lemonade byBeyonce andBlackstar byDavid Bowie. Blackstar was Bowie's final album, which Stringer worked with him on personally.[6]
After a decade at Columbia Records, Stringer became the CEO of Sony Music succeedingDoug Morris in April 2017.[8]
In his first year as CEO, Stringer oversaw a 12.2% increase in recorded music (up to $4.03 billion). This included an improvement of streaming revenues, which went up 37.3% to $1.8 billion, and improvements in physical sales, which increased by just under $10 million.[9]
In August 2019, Stringer was named as the Chairman of Sony Music Group, in addition to his role of CEO of Sony Music Entertainment.[10]
He was reported to have "an artist-friendly reputation, working closely with modern icons including Adele, Beyoncé, Bob Dylan, Harry Styles, and many others".[10]
In 2021, Stringer implemented the company's Artists Forward and Songwriters Forward programs to create more earnings opportunities for artists and songwriters.[11]
In his role as chairman he is credited as driving the creation of a $100 million fund to "fight racism around the world".[12]
Stringer was named Music Visionary of the Year in 2013 by the UJA-Federation of New York's Music and was presented the award byAdele.[13]
In 2014, he received the “Strat” Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement fromMusic Week.[14]
Stringer received the 2016 Clive Davis Visionary Award fromBillboard magazine.[15]
In 2017, he received the Music Industry Trusts Award, which was presented by close friendNicky Wire of the Manic Street Preachers.[16]
He was appointedCommander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the2022 New Year Honours for services to UK creative industries, social justice and charity.[17]
He was awarded the 2022 GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons award.[18]
Stringer appeared at #2 on theBillboard Power 100 in 2022[19] and again in 2023.[20]
Stringer is married, has two children and lives in New York.[21] Whilst he spends about three-quarters of the year in New York, he also makes regular trips to London and Los Angeles.[4] He is aLuton Town supporter[4] and is currently a director at the club.[1]
| Preceded by | Chairman & Chief Executive Officer ofSony Music Entertainment April 2017–present | Succeeded by incumbent |
